Publicity device.



C. LEAN.

PUBLICITY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIo. I9I2.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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TIIE COLUMBIA vLANoGnAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

C. LEAN.

PUBLICITY DEVICE.

AP lc 1,173,361. PL ATloN FILED MAY lo 1912 Patented-Feb. 29,1916' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

CLEMENT LEAN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PUBLICITY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application led May 10, 1912. Serial No. 696,445.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLEMENT LEAN, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Thanet House, 231 Strand, London, IV. C., England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Publicity Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to publicity or advertising devices, signs and the like.

Signs according to the present invention comprise reflecting elements in the form of glass tubes silvered internally.

One embodiment of a sign according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a changing sign showing the letter F, Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same sign showing the letter T and Fig. 3 a front elevation of the same sign showing the letter I. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line IV-IV Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of one of the elements forming the sign shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified element for the formation of signs according to this invention.

Referring to the drawings the sign consists of a case 1 in which a plurality of glass tubes 2 silvered inside are revolubly mounted. Said tubes may conveniently be 1 inch or 2 inches in diameter for a letter 1 ft. or 4 ft. high respectively. Each of said tubes is fitted at its upper end with a wooden or metal plug 3 provided with a pivot 4, and at its lower end with a wooden or metal plug 5 provided with a pivot 6, said plug containing two circular grooves 7, 8. The pivots 4 engage in holes in a bar 10 on the under surface of the top of the case, and the pivots 6 in a bar 1l on the bottom of the case. Wires or chains 12 engaging in the grooves 7 and pinned at the one end to the plugs 5 are secured at the other end to the bar 13 and wires or chains 14 in the grooves 8, are pinned at the one end to the plugs 5 and secured at the other end to springs 15 which are attached to the rear of case 1. The bar 13 engages with a cam 16 driven by an electric motor (not shown).

39 is the glass front of the case 1.

In Fig. 5, 40 is the layer of silvering.

The silvered tubes when in the position shown in Fig. 1 present the letter Fthe eX- posed parts not forming the F being painted black. If all the tubes be turned around in the same direction through 120O into the position shown in Fig. 2, they present the letter T, the exposed parts not forming the T being painted black, and similarly when turned around through 120o farther the letter I is presented.

The cam 16 which is driven by an electric motor (not shown) through a reduction gearing is so shaped that on rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. l the rod moves to the right through such a distance that the cords 12 turn the tubes through about 120". The rod then remains stationary for a certain period, the letter T being 'meanwhile exhibited. The rod then moves farther to the right and turns the tubes through about 120o farther and again remains stationary for a time, during which the letter I is exhibited. The rod then returns to its original position under the action of the cam and the springs l5, and remains stationary during the presentation of the letter F, when the above-described series of movements is repeated.

The glass front 39 or the glass tubes may be colored.

It is to be understood that four letters might be presented by the tubes, the elements of each letter on each tube covering an area of about 90. Or only one or two letters might be provided.

Referring to Fig. 6, the same shows a modified form of element for the formation of signs according to the present invention. This element comprises a metal tube 32 preferably of thin drawn steel on which the glass tube 33 which is internally silvered is mounted. Said tube 33 may be supported on a collar 34 fixed to said tube 32 and may also be secured to the latter by adhesive material applied between the tubes, and at the upper end of the tube 33. It will be understood that the position of the tube 33 on the metal tube 32 and the length of said tube 33 is determined by the word or words to be formed, and by the position of the element in the word, parts of the tube 33 being painted black where necessary. Two or more tubes 33 might be mounted on the same metal tube. The cords 12 and 14 may be secured to the tube 32 by pins 35 or the like. The pivots 36, 36 may be provided on plugs 37 secured in the ends of the metal tubes.

It Will be understood that signs according to the present invention are intended for operation out of doors in order that the portions of the internally silvered tubes exposed to view may reflect the light from the sky and clouds to the observer.

The use of internally silvered tubes as elements of changing signs affords the latter many advantages. For example, firstly, When the sun is shining the tubes when rotating do not cause the angular displacement of the reflected sunlight to vary so that the n* area over Which objectionable flashing ocinfluences of the Weather.

curs is reduced to a. minimum. Secondly, the silvering of the glass being surrounded by glass can be entirely inclosed and thus be effectively protected from the detrimental Thirdly, the signs can be readily illuminated by artificial lights suitably arranged.

It Will be understood that although in Word-changing signs such as the sign shown in Fig. 2 small spaces are preferably left between each tube and its neighbors, and that although some or all of the exposed reflecting surfaces on the tubes may not subtend an angle greater than 120 or even less than 120O at the center of each tube, the letters when viewed from a suitable distance do not present a confused appearance, the dark portions at the edges of the tubes While in the position in which they vpresent a givenI letter being more or less unnoticeable according to the distance of the observer from the sign and to the brilliance of the reflectors.

In Figs. l, 2 and 3 the letters are drawn as they appear when seen from a considerable distance. When three letters are to be presented, the exposed that is, non-painted surfaces of the tubes may subtend 115 orv so at the centers of the tubes, and When four letters are present 850 or so, so that on a given tube none of the exposed surfaces are actually contiguous, the object being to reduce the danger of confusion caused by the portions of letters not Wholly presented at the time being visible at the edges of the tubes While presenting a given letter.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In a publicity device, a plurality of revoluble spring-influenced glass tubes silvered internally, a plurality of tension members each connected at one end to a tube, a bar connected to the other ends of each tension member, and means for reciprocating said bar. l

2. In a publicity device, a plurality of metal tubes and a plurality of glass tubes silvered internally surrounding said metal tubes. Y

3. A publicity device comprising a plurality of revoluble straight cylindrical glass tubes silvered internally and placed parallel to one another, and opaque material situated on the tubes and so located that when the tubes are in certain positions parts unprovided With such material form a device to be exhibited.

4. A publicity device comprising a plurality of oscillatory straight cylindrical glass tubes silvered internally and placed parallel to one another, and opaque material situated on the tubes and so located that when the tubes are in certain positions parts unprovided with such material form a device to be exhibited.

5. A publicity device comprising a plurality of revoluble straight cylindrical glass tubes silvered internally and placed parallel to one another, means for turning the tubes intermittently in one direction, and means for giving them a continuous return motion in the other direction.

In testimonyv Whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLEMENT LEAN.

Witnesses:

H. SUEFURAN, FLORENCE A. POWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

